n A Tribute To Kurt Strom — Page 2
Inside Disability Parking — p. 8
Volume 10, Number 3
n
SOURCES
March 10, 1999
1
“Remain open to any new insights.” — Confucius
RESOURCES
March 10, 1999
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Where Do Our Issues Stand? by Charlie Smith, Editor
T
Self Defense: Options For People With Disabilities by Donna McNamara
W
hen I worked at the Sexual Violence Center in Minneapolis, I frequently spoke with women who had been sexually assaulted who wanted to learn what their options might be if they were threatened again in the future. I also spoke with women who had not been assaulted, but who felt the very real threat of assault. Given the statistics on violence against women in U.S. society, it is understandable that many women are interested in developing personal safety skills. But eliminating violence against women cannot be accomplished by individuals learning, one by one, how to “fight back.” It requires broad-scale social change that confronts the roots of gender-based inequality. At the same time, it is important for women to have skills for self-protection; and knowing how to respond to assault situations can be difficult, especially since gender-based socialization continues to reward “nice” women who are quiet and submissive. Self defense classes can offer a variety of skills for dealing with dangerous and poten-
tially dangerous situations. For this article, I spoke with Mary Brandl, a third degree black belt in Japanese Shotokan Karate, who has been teaching karate, self defense and personal safety classes in Minnesota and nationally since 1980. Over the years, Brandl has developed self defense courses specifically for women with disabilities and many women with disabilities take her “mainstream” classes as well. A recent series for Deaf women was held at a local church. I attended one of the sessions and spoke with some of the participants about their experience. Rhonda said she took the course to gain self confidence, adding, “It’s a goal of mine to be able to protect myself.” Another participant, who was abused by her ex-boyfriend, came to learn how to “think positive and fight back.” Kathy Schumacher, who coordinates the sexual assault program for Deaf women at Regions Hospital and was a co-sponsor of the series said, “I like to take this course every year or two. You never know what situation you could run into; it’s a good reminder.”
One thing Brandl stresses is that there are many more options for dealing with dangerous situations than we realize. Furthermore, many people do not have accurate information about how confrontations begin and how they progress. As a result, even a minimum of training can increase a person’s options significantly. It is important to keep in mind, however, that regardless of the level of training, there is never a guarantee that a particular technique will always work or that learning self defense insures you can escape any situation unharmed. With that in mind, let’s look at how basic self defense can be a helpful thing for people with disabilities to know. Marj Schneider, who is blind, first took self defense classes many years ago, soon after she moved out of her parents’ home. She believes anyone with a disability would benefit from taking self defense. “We need every resource for feeling confident in ourselves and certain of our abilities,” says Schneider. “Self defense skills should be taught along with assert-
Defense - cont. on p. 9
he legislature’s in full swing and the week of March 1-5 was Disability Week at the Capitol, with many organizations and constituents meeting with legislators and attending hearings. Although it is difficult for a monthly newspaper to provide legislative updates, since things move so quickly, we will try to bring you up to speed on many of the bills that have been introduced so far. Keep in mind that by the time you read this the status of some of the legislation may have already changed. Information for this article was provided by the community groups working on these bills. The Waiting List bill (S.F. 288/H.F. 345) seeks to eliminate the waiting list for people with mental retardation and related disabilities over a four year period. It seeks funding for 1,000 people to receive waivered services, 900 families to receive the family support grant, and 500 individuals to receive semi-independent living services in the first biennium.
ity for medical assistance, a person must “spend-down” their income to $467 a month. This limit would be increased by $27 (as allowed by federal law) to assist people with disabilities and seniors with the increased cost of living, if Senate File 542 and House File 669 pass. This bill has passed out of the Policy Committees in both houses. Cost of Living Increases for Direct Care Workers Bills have been introduced to increase wages for Home and Community Based Services workers (Senate File 112 & House File 499). An increase would help address the severe shortage of home and direct care workers (personal care attendants, nursing home and group home staff) needed by many people with disabilities. For decades the increases that have been allocated have lagged behind the actual increase in the cost of living.
The bill has passed out of the Health and Human Services Policy Committees in both the House and Senate, and was passed out of the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee March 2.
These bills call for an increase in reimbursement rates in 1999 and 2000 by an amount equal to “(1) an amount necessary to increase wages paid to non-administrative staff by 5%, plus (2) the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index-All Items (CPIU) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999 and 2000 for providers.”
Metro Mobility The Metropolitan Council (governing body over Metro Mobility) has not yet submitted its budget to the legislature. They have indicated their support for some increase in Metro Mobility funding, but at this point the amount of the increase, if any, is still unknown.
This bill was passed out of the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee on March 2nd with the addition of 5 amendments. Committee members also agreed to conduct research into the pros and cons of using a % wage increase vs a specified amount of money per hour for all workers.
Medical Assistance Income Standard Currently, to maintain eligibil-
Common Vision Advocating Change Together is seeking funding to continue
their community organizing and self-advocacy leadership development. Senator Janezich will carry this bill in the Senate and they are currently seeking a House sponsor. Special Education There are two bills going through the legislature that address the 1998 legislation which requires that all state special education laws and rules which exceed federal law be sunset on JuIy 1, 1999. The first bill (HF 488/SF 297) contains the noncontroversial items to which all the stakeholders agreed. In particular, the bill allows the Department of Children, Families and Learning (DCFL) to make minor revisions to eligibility criteria, align certain sections to federal language, and repeal outdated language. The second bill (HF 483/SF 296) contains controversial items. Some of the items were recently agreed upon, such as eliminating the state payment of districts’ attorney fees and agreeing to look at EB/D criteria. Additionally the bill contains language that strengthens parent special education advisory committees by continuing to allow flexibility but also requiring some accountability. The bill would lower the age students can continue receiving services from September 1 after they turn 22 to September 1 after they turn 21. The bill would also increase the age at which transition services begin from age 14 to age 16. The Coalition for Children with Disabilities is strongly opposed to these two changes. Action on language related to the suspension and expulsion of children with disabilities is being delayed until the federal IDEA regulations come out the first week in
Leg. Up. - cont. on p. 3